3 ex-officers involved in Tyre Nichols's death found not guilty in state trail

Three former Memphis, Tenn., police officers were found not guilty Wednesday on state charges related to the in-custody beating death of Tyre Nichols. 

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith Jr. were all charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression for their role in the 2023 death of Nichols following a police stop. 

A mostly white jury from Hamilton County deliberated for about 8 and a half hours before finding the three not guilty on each count.

But the three have been convicted on federal charges and will face time in federal prison. Sentencing in the federal case was postponed until the state trial concluded. 

The trio became emotional after the verdict was read. Haley and Bean hugged. 

Nichols died on Jan. 10, 2023, from injuries he sustained during a brutal beating from the officers on Jan. 7. He was initially stopped for reckless driving, though officials later said there was no evidence to substantiate the reckless driving claim. 

Nichols ran from police officers, who eventually caught up to him and kicked, punched and beat him with a baton for three minutes. No aid was given to Nichols by the officers, and it was revealed that one of them texted photos of Nichols to friends after the beating. 

The five officers, who were part of a controversial team called the SCORPION Unit, were eventually fired and charged by both state and federal officials. 

Bean and Smith were found guilty on federal charges of witness tampering and face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Haley was found guilty on federal charges of using excessive force, being deliberately indifferent to Nichols's medical needs, witness tampering and conspiracy to witness tamper. The jury found that though Haley violated Nichols's civil rights, his actions resulted in injury, not death. Haley faces life in federal prison.

The two other former officers involved, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty on federal charges of using excessive force and conspiracy to witness tamper. 

Mills's plea agreement extended to the state case, and he will serve both his federal and state sentences at the same time. 

Both Martin and Mills testified in the federal trial, but only Mills testified in the state trial.